Apparatus and method for molding concrete floor slabs in situ



March 25, 1952 M. (S; FLORES $590,304

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING- CONCRETE FLOOR SLABS IN SITU Filed Aug. go, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR Mnuel G. Fzoras ATTORNEY5 March 25, 1952 M FLQRES 2,590,304

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING v i CONCRETE FLOOR SLABS IN SITU Filed Aug. 20, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 llIIIIIl'IIlllIllIlII Manuel G. FZores ATTORNEYS March 25, 1952 M. G. FLOiQES 2,590,304

' APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING CONCRETE FLOOR SLABS IN SITU Filed Aug. 20, 1947 s Shecs-Sheet :5

INVENTOR -Ma ez mum.

Patented Mar. 25, 1952 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING CONCRETE FLOOR SIJABS IN SITU Manuel Gonzalez Flores, Mexico City, Mexico Application August 20, 1 o4'z,"seris1ivo. 769,650 4 Claims. (01; 25-4315) The present invention refers to a new system for erecting and simultaneously setting up and removing forms for horizontal andslanting concrete elements and in which the pouring of the horizontal elements is started from the top downwards, that is, beginning on the roof down to the basement, or from one or several intermediate floors downwards, using in all the pourings the same apparatus.

The present system may be employed on steel lower element, proceeding in the same manner down to the lowest slab to be poured.

Further, by the system of my invention, the

pouring is started from top to bottom, and

through the use of the apparatus it'is possible to-have a previously formed platform used for the support of the pouring apparatus instead of hanging or resting the apparatus on the studs structures or any other class of structures where the columns-and brackets or beams are already available.

In order to demonstrate the advantages of my invention, I will first generally describe the systems that up to the present time are used in removing the forms in a horizontal element, asf suming it is located on the same vertical position, that is, the form is made on complete floors. In the system used until now the following that transmit the weight to the beams, brackets orjcolumns of the next inferior floor, thus avoiding the necessity of subsequently filling up holes opened in the slabs.

The characteristic details of the present systom for erecting and removing forms for horioperations have to be performed: ((1) remove the counterbrace of the studs; (19) remove the :1 studs, horizontal rollers and planking; (c) raise the lumber up in parts by means of horizontal conveyors, as the vertical transportation has to be made generally through the nearest light shaft, and this is done for the purpose of pouring the nearest superior element;

zontal and slanting concrete elements and the apparatus used for performing the work, are

-clearly shown in the following description and drawings, the same reference signs serving to indicate the corresponding parts throughout.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

(01) remove all nails and clean such lumber that has not been destroyed in lowering the planking, which is generally done by letting it fall freely; (e) start In the drawings, I Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the platform which in this view appears so placed as to cover a clearance on a concrete structure in one of the intermediate floors, the upper front beam I and the columns situated above this level having again the erection of the forms, placing the wooden shoes; (3) set up the studs and their crosspieces, and upon them place the rollers the planking and oounterbrace.

b'efen cut oil to make the drawing clear,

Figure 2 shows a front view of the same platform,

This known system has great inconveniences,

one of which is that as the lowering of the planking of the horizontal elements is made as a rule by letting the planking fall free, most of the lumber is destroyed. .Also, the horizontal trans portation of the forms to the next superior'fioor is rather difilcult and takes considerable time.

By my system of simultaneously erecting and removing forms for horizontal and slanting conj of a platform hanging from tie rods and these supported by Wooden beams.

In my system, once the concrete has hardened i.

sufficiently to support its own weight, the tie rods and forms are lowered until the required height is reached for the pouring of the nextf inferior element, thus permitting simultaneous removal of the forms from the element already? poured and the setting up of forms for the next Figure 3 shows a side view of the platform at which will support the planking; and (g) nail the moment the forms of an element are removed and those of the next lower element are set up. On this picture the platform is shown supported by means of provisional pulleys and bridges, and the lateral strips of the planking are shown folded.

In accordance with the present system, in pouring horizontal or slanting elements on a concrete or steel structure, it is necessary to use a different pouring method, that is, starting from top to bottom, from the roof down to the basement, using for that purpose an apparatus which is described in the included drawings. H

As shown by these drawings, this apparatus is a two-story structure and acts as a movable form, by means of which the pouring of the horizontal and slanting elements is performed, the platform being held by bolts on portions of the structure located below the poured slabs and its ends of the stanchions (e) go through the lower platform (T) and continue downwards to a reasonable length, and these stanchions are fixed to the structure of the platform by means of bolts, distribution shoes orby butts (z) and wedges (y), or else they are directly fixed to the beams 1) of the platform (T), in such a form that the'distance between the upper platform -(a-) and the lower one (T) can easily be changed.

The platform (a) on each side is provided with some articulated pieces (I) that can be lowered or raised to adjust the necessary length of the form and are complemented by some adjustment strips (1).

Alongside the stanchions (e) some brackets (f) are placed, where the workmen can easily fix the steel or mesh that is employed when the beams are covered up, and to facilitate the adjustment of the form on thelbeams, which form on being removed shall remain hanging from one of the platforms, so when these are lowered, the form will find itself practically in place for the next operation.

The proceeding to be followed on each floor for the erection of the forms, pouring and removing the forms in accordance to the present system is carried on as follows:

1. Preparation of the form for the pouring The platform (T) lies and is fixed on each floor by fastening it to the beams or girders (k) by means of beams (i) and the platform (a) is adjusted to the height of the bench .by means of the wedges (y) so the planking or platform (a) will be located precisely at a level corresponding to the lower bed of the slab that is to be poured, and empty spaces left at the edges are covered up by raising the pieces (0:) of the form completed with some adjustment strips (1). The location of' the reinforcing bars of the slabs is marked on the platform (a).

2. Pouring This is effected by the usual methods and for this purpose runways to carry the concrete to the required place will be handy at all times, and for such'work the platforms (at) of the adjoining apparatus or the lower adjacent platforms (T) that have not yet been lowered may be utilized.

3. Time of concrete hardening The necessary time is waited for the concrete slab to'be hard enough to support itself, since it is not supposed to support any further weight for the construction of theother slabs in the structure.

4. Removal of the form To removethe form, it is necessary to loosen the wedges (y) or bolt pins which hold the stanchions (e) at the required level, thus permitting the platform (a) to-go down by its own by means of pulleys or rollers.

weight, lightly, for instance 5 to 10 centimeters, a space which is sufilcient for the planking to separate from the slab. On steel structures, when the pouring of the slabs is made together with the covering up of the beams and lower columns, before making the separation of the platform (a), the forms of the beams and columns mentioned above are left hanging held by the pulleys fastened to the same. When some difficulty is experienced in separating the platform (a) it will be necessary to pull the planking (:c) from the lower beams, or some small open spaces mayv be left on the slab where it can be hit or pressed against the form from the upper side to effect the separation.

5. Lowering of. the form The platform descends directly to the next lower floor and its descent is performed by any of the usual construction methods, or else some benches (m) are placed on top of the beams of the structure that support the platform, and upon them goes the bridge (w) where the pulleys (n) shall be placed on two parallel sides of the platform; by means of these the platform (T) is raised a little less than the platform (a) was lowered by the wedges (y) but a suflicient amount topermit the removing of the beams (i) which, if they are of one piece, can be moved first to one side to give room for the beam on which it rests and then lower the beam until it rests on the next lower beams. Likewise, the beams (i) may be turned around until a clear space is left for the beams to telescope or to fold by means of hinges.

On the platform (a) the lateral movable sections (:c) are fixed so as to permit the lowering below the bridges that support the whole thing Once the platform is in such condition it can descend easily until its platform (T) again rests on the lower beams (k) on the beams (i) 6. Resting on its new level When the platform is resting again upon the r beams (i) in the next lower floor, its platform (a) is located slightly below the desired level and this platform (a) is raised by the same pulleys (n) holding the bench and carrying it to the lower level; when it arrives the wedges (y) or the beams (i) are set in place and in this manner the platform (a) will be in a permanent position and at the required level until the new pouring is effected. It can also be lifted to its level by means of screws or turnbuckles.

The cycle of operation necessary to pour one floor is thus completed, and this cycle is successively repeated until all floors are finished.

It is to be understood that the foregoing descriptive statement does not limit invention strictly to the letter, much less on the illustrating drawings, since it is possible to effect some changes or modifications on the described methods to realize this new system, providing such changes or modifications do not alter the essence of the invention.

The platform (a) can be constructed in one piece or in sections and be provided on its superior face with pieces that will give certain decorative designs to all the slabs after they are poured, as well as the projecting and inward parts that may be desired so as to be able to construct easily hollow slabs without the necessity of any additional labor.

Also the stanchions (e) could be extended downwards a sufficient length to support the apparatus hanging the same from said stanchions directly or indirectly, or prolong them downwards sufficiently until they rest on the second lower beams in which case the planking (a) could be of one single piece, without the necessity of folding up any of its sides. These stanchions can also be extended momentarily upwards to serve as masts for boom supports for any other operations.

To assist in removing the forms some small hollow spaces may be left on the slab so as to hit from above, but if this is not'desired, then small pieces might be taken away from the platform (a), and by means of a separator, screws or small jack effect a pressure to separate the form from the slab. This is generally unnecessary, since the weight of the apparatus itself will effect the re moval easily.

The wedges (y) may be located either between the stanchions and the platform (I), or between the structure and the beams (i) I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for pouring a concrete slab in a structure having spaced apart vertical and horizontal structural supporting members of at least two floors of the structure constituting upper and lower floor levels comprising a supporting platform having the marginal edges thereof disposed inwardly of adjacent vertical supporting members of the structure, removable support means extending from adjacent the upper floor level to a point below the level of the lower floor and engageable below said supporting platform for supporting said platform on the horizontal members of said lower level of the structure, an upper platform having the marginal edges thereof disposed inwardly of said vertical members of the structure to provide a concrete form for the upper level, cleats on said vertical supporting members disposed above said supporting platform, wedge means engageable between said cleats and said supporting platform and adapted to move said upper platform vertically relative to said supporting platform, and elevating and lowering means carried by said horizontal members of the lower level and connected to said supporting platform positioned at the upper level for effecting vertical movement of said supporting platform and said upper platform whereby after the concrete poured above said upper platform positioned at the upper level has set sufficiently to support its own weight, said wedge means engageable between said cleats and said supporting platform may be removed to allow for moving of said upper platform downwardly towards said supporting platform and free of the concrete, and said elevating and lowering means may be operated to lower said upper and supporting platforms to the next lower level after said wedge means have been dise p gaged from said supporting platform.

apparatus for pouring a concrete slab in a structure formed with spaced apart vertical members and spaced apart horizontal support members extending between said vertical members at different floor levels comprising a sup porting platform alignable on a level formed by certain of the horizontal members, an upper platform supported by said supporting platform and alignable at an upper floor level formed by certain others of the horizontal members, said upper platform constituting a concrete form for an upper floor spaced from a lower level, vertical supporting members extending through said lower level and between said platforms, and a hoist means carried by the horizontal support members at a lower level and attached to the supporting platform for lowering said supporting platform and said upper platform as a unit to place the upper platform at a lower floor level relative to the poured concrete slab after it has set.

3. An apparatus for pouring succeeding concrete floor slabs in a structure having horizontal structural supporting members spaced apart at succeeding floor levels extending between spaced vertical members of the structure comprising a supporting platform spaced adjacent horizontal members at a lower level spaced from an upper level, an upper platform supported by said lower platform and in alignment with the upper level, said upper platform constituting a form for a poured concrete floor positioned at said upper level, vertical support members extending threugh said lower level and between said platforms, hoist means havingone end connected to oppositely spaced horizontal members at a lower level with opposite ends connected to the supporting platform for lowering said sup porting platform between the horizontal members and through said lower level.

4. The method of erecting a concrete structure in a structural frame having horizontal members disposed at different floor levels which comprises mounting a supporting platform within the frame at a floor level below that at which the concrete is to be poured and attaching the supporting platform to a lowering means for lowering said platform through said levels as a unit, supporting an upper platform on the lower platform in alignment with the desired concrete floor level, pouring concrete on said upper platform, and lowering the entire structure as a unit formed by said lower and upper platforms to bring said upper platform in alignment with a lower floor level after said poured concrete has set.

MANUEL GONZALEZ FLORES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Payne Dec. 29, 1936 

